Dick Groat was a two-sport star at Duke, playing both Baseball and Basketball, and was so good that he became the first man to be inducted to both the College Basketball and College Baseball Hall of Fame. Groat even played a year in the NBA, but thankfully for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he made Baseball his main career choice.
Groat signed with the Pirates in 1952 and was third in Rookie of the Year voting but could not immediately capitalize as he was in the Military the next two years. Returning in 1955, the Shortstop would patrol the infield for the Pirates until 1962, where he was an All-Star in three seasons, winning the Batting Title in 1960 (.325), leading the National League in Defensive bWAR (2.6) and the MVP. Groat capped the season perfectly by leading Pittsburgh to a World Series win, completing one of the most successful years ever by a Pirate.
Groat was traded to St. Louis after the 1962 campaign, leaving Pittsburgh with 1,435 Hits and a .290 Batting Average.
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